Mole drain plow



Feb. 5, '1929. 1,701,235 H. R. JENSEN MOLE DRAIN PLOW Filed Sept.24,1926 vven 761/;

Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

` HERBERT RASiMUS JENSEN, 0F WHAKARONGrA7 NEW ZEALAND.

MOLE DRAINy PLOW.

Application filed September 24, 1926. f ySerial No. 137,572.

My invention relates to mole drain plows, a type of implement used byfarmers and others to make underground drains for the purpose ofdraining waterlogged, sour land and the like, thus making the said landmore easy to workand consequently more productive. v

The object of` the present invention is .to provide an improved type oflnole drain plow which though of light construction and draught issimple and efficient in operation, as the implement can be handled andplaced in position with a minimum of labour, and is strong enough to doall the work required of it.

"A further object'of my invention is to provide means whereby the plowcan be automatically adjusted to various depths while in the ground togive an even grade in the drain; this is especially advantageous whendraining ground having rises and depressions. A still further object ofthe invention is to provide means whereby the plow is ada-pted toautomatically leave the ground when the drain is finished.

I make reference to the drawings accomc panying this specificationinwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, the groundv levelbeing indicated by dotted lines. f f

Figure 2 isa plan view of Figurel. Figure 3 is a plan view on the lineB-B Figure 1, to more clearly illustrate the construction of the torpedoandthe mole plug.

Figure 4 is afsection'on thev line A-A, Figure 1, illustrating the lightframe construction.

Figure 5 is a view of'the stay. v Figure 6 is a View of the ratchetmechanism to alter depth of plow.

In the construction of my invention I employ two angle iron members 1and lA fitted together by bolts 2 having distance pieces 3 thereon. c

Attached to the front end of the said angle iron members are what may betermed two suitably shaped metal skids or runners 4 which are positionedfar, enough apart from each angle iron member 1 and 1A' to preventtilting of the plow. t

The method of attaching the said skids or runners 4 to the angle ironmembers 1 and 1A is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanyingdrawings. The said skids or runners 4 are preferably curved and dishedas illustrated to assist the plow in riding over the ground and to givethe beam menibers a clearance.

Suitable means are provided such as a shackle or link 5 and chain 6,attached to the forward end of the members 1l and 1A by the said belt 2and 'distance piece 3 whereby a horse team or power tractor may beattached to the plow. Accord-ingy to this invention a bla-de member 7 isprovided, constructed of special steel, of sufficient thickness andpivotally connected to the rear end of ysaid angle members 1 and 1A by apin or bolt 8, the front edge of the upper portion of the blade isformed withl a series of notches 9 for the purpose hereinafterdescribed, while the lower end ofthe blade 7 has its forward end formedinto a knife shaped edge; the upper extremity of this knife shaped edgeis slightly curved forward as indicated in Figure l.

There is a torpedo member 10 provided which is riveted to the bottom ofthe blade as l indicated in Figure of the drawings at such an angle soas to give an undercut or slant tothe blade and thus help to keep theplow at its set depth. A mole plug 11 is provided Abetween the angleirons l and 1A forming the` beam of the plow. The free end of the saidstay 14 is shaped as illustrated in l Figure 5 to permit of it engagingwith the beforev mentioned' series of notches 9 on the blade 7 (seeFigure l), the angleof engagement being preferably about 45 degrees to ppermit a downward thrust to the frame, thus giving great strength andobviating shearing and additional bolts in attaching the blade member 7to the angle irons 1 and 1^ forming the beam of the plow and thus makingit possible to use a metal of light construction.

To regulate the draught of a plow to a predetermined depth, the operatorwill require to unloosen bolt 8 and move the blade 7 `until either ofthe holes 15 coincide with thel holes in the frame members 1 and 1A7then replace bolt 8 clamping blade to frame and at the same time adj ustthe stay 14 in the notches 9 formed on the blade 7 to give the saidblade its required slope or angle to ensure that the torpedo 10 liXed tothe extremity of the blade 7 provides the requisite angle tor the under-Cut.

Mounted upon the side of one of the angle members 1 or 1A is a handle 1Gfor lifting` the rear end of the plow and suitably positioned on saidstay 14 is a handle 17 whereby the said stay is adapted to be engagedand disen-l gaged as required from the notches 9 on the blade 7.

.ln Figure 6 is illustrated a means by which the angle o't the saidblade 7 and torpedo 10V can be set as will vary .the grade of the drainor cause the torpedo 10 to cut the said drain to the surface oit' theground 18. 'lhis object accomplished by attaching a quad-rant 19 to thecentre bolts 2 o1" the angle iron iframe members 1 and 1A and by the useof a suitably mounted lever E20. provided with a trigger 21, connectinglink 22 and spring bolt 23 engaging with the rack 2a or the saidquadrant 19; one end of the said lever being bell cranked and one endbeingl pivoted on bolt 2, the other end of the bell crank lever beingattached to the stay 14 by means ot a bolt 26. 'illhe lever 20 will beot suilicient length so that it can be operated by the driver of thehorse team or powertractor hauling the plow. The trigger' 2l and springbolt 23 may be of the design in .common use.

Referring again to blade 7 litted between the said angle irons 1 and 1Athis blade has a ourfliold: purpose, (1) the top endv of blade acts as alever. when supported by thev stay 14 against the lower end which dra-wsmole plug 11 the top end off blade 7 acts as a ratchet having-.notches9. into which the. stay 1st is set being the depth regulator when thestay 1d is released from blade 7 and plow drawn forward, the top corner27 of the` blade 7 catches in ground and turns the blade over so thatthe mole plug 11 rests on top o'l' beam, and the top rounded side 28 ofblade 7 then acts as a runner to carry back end. o'll plow when out ofaction.

The position of the bolt 2 supporting the lower end or stay 1st` is suchas will permit ot l the upper portion ot the said blade 7 revolvvingIpast said bolt 2 when the mole plugll is being withdrawn.

In operation draw the plow to where the outlet of drain is to bei, usinga chain of suitable length so that the lront of' plow is not lifted o'tlthe ground when working; take hold ol" handle 16 with the left hand andwith the right swing the blade 7 around so that the torpedo 10 rests onthe ground, set into bank of open drain or elsewhere, pull the regulatorstati/'1.4; over and set into any of the required rsiisc-optible ot nio-ward and this causes the blade 8 to leave the ground and turn over, thetop ogt' the blade then acts as a runner to carry the back of the plow.

From the foregoing4 description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device et' the character describen. possessing theparticular' 'leiti .'es olf advantage belore enumerated as deciral'ile,but which obviously is ication in its torni, pro.- portion, detail con:ruction o" arrangement ot parts` without der ting :trom the principleinvolved or sacrificing any of its advantages. n

lflfhat l; claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An improved mole drain plow comprising 'two angle iron members ably,joined together forming the bea-m of t ie. plow, runner members orskidsattached to the forward end of' each angle iron meml'ier, anadjustable blade member suitably retained between, the said angle ironmembers and near the rear end thereof', the said blade having a seriesof notches .on its front edge and a knife shaped edge on its lowerextremity, a torpedo member attached to the lower end of said blade,provided with a pivotally mounted mole plug, an adjustable stay member'mounted between he said angle iron members adapted to engage with thesaid notches on the said blade, and means by which the angle of the Saidblade and torpedo can be adjusted as herein described and asillustrated.

2.-An improved mole drain plow accord ing to claim 1,'the said runnermembers` or skids characterized by being curved or dished tor thepurpose specified and as illustrated.

3. A mole drain plow comprising a beam, a mole blade member mounted atthe rear of the beam, said member having ya series ot' teeth on itsFront edgelazbove the beam, ,andv having its front edge sharpened below.the beam, a torpedo attached to the lowerend oil the blade member, aperforated mole plug at the` rear end of the torpedo, and means betweenthe beamand the toothed front edge of the blade member toA hold theblade mem- `ier in adjusted position.

ln testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

HERBERT RASMUS JENSEN.

lllO

